Can Clinton do that old wang dang doodle?

The White House office in charge of something recently released the president’s summer playlist, which was divided into “Vol. 1: Summer Day” and “Vol. 2: Summer Night.” It was, all in all, a pretty impressive set of choices.

I am aware that Obama did not sit in front of his word-processing device all morning pondering his picks, carefully exchanging Al Green’s “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” for the same artist’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” and then changing it back because, really, wasn’t the Sam Cooke version superior?

No, I think this list was pre-spun the way every release from the White House is carefully manicured and made lovely by a thousand hands. But whoever did the spinning was quite adept.

Also, we know a little something about Barack Obama and music. We’ve heard him sing to himself once in a while within the hearing of a microphone; we’ve seen him do a credible “Slow Jam the News” with Jimmy Fallon. And the artists he’s invited to give White House concerts have been a diverse and sophisticated bunch, with a welcome emphasis on underappreciated African American musicians.

So I imagine that this list was passed under Obama’s nose at some point, so he did have a chance to say, “Are you sure this is the right Aretha?,” leading to an interesting conversation that was interrupted only by the president of Pakistan going all “Who’s zooming who?” about nuclear proliferation.

And “Moondance” by Van Morrison is kind of an obvious choice, and “The Best Is Yet to Come” is hardly Ray Charles’ finest work, of which there is a plethora.

But, gosh, John Coltrane and Bob Dylan (“Tombstone Blues” rather than “Blowin’ in the Wind” — bold selection) and Billie Holiday and Miles Davis and Howlin’ Wolf (“Wang Dang Doodle”) and Joni Mitchell and, of course, groups I do not know, like Okkervil River and Low Cut Connie.

Well played, Mr. President. If only your view of the emerging security state were as tasteful as your music choices, what a wonderful world it would be (not included).

Hillary Clinton also has a summer music list. She has gone through her Spotify account and her old bins of vinyl, and she’s come up with her own list for the kids to groove to when the backs of their necks are getting dirty and gritty. And it’s not exactly convincing.

And the way that it’s not convincing says something about the Clinton candidacy. Don’t get me wrong; I am certainly going to vote for Clinton in November 2016, because the difference between her and whichever dopey, dangerous Republican gets nominated is immense. No, I mention this in the spirit of love.

The list of songs includes nothing released before 1999. It is heavy on upbeat songs by current or near-current pop stars: Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson and Sara Bareilles. It sort of screams, “Hey, Millennials, I’m with you. Roar like a lion and vote for me.”

It would be nice to have a candidate who doesn’t seem quite so opaque and manipulative. One who, if not being candid, gives the impression of being candid. Obama is pretty good at that. But an air of cynical calculation sort of lingers miasma-like over all matters Clinton.

I know, she has ample reason to distrust the press, and she’s seen what can happen to apparently trivial comments when they blow up on social media. So maybe it’s an issue of faking it better. I understand so little about politics.

Here’s the thing: Clinton and I are pretty close in age. She grew up listening to the music I grew up listening to. Her daughter was named Chelsea because Bill liked the Joni Mitchell song “Chelsea Morning” as sung by Judy Collins. And it’s a nice ditty, although it’s no “You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio.” So, sistah, I hear you.

But here’s an excellent rule of thumb for white people: Adults stop paying attention to popular music trends at age 33. Many exceptions, of course, but I bet that’s true, particularly for hardworking young lawyers. Certainly, there are no reports that the White House halls were, during the Clinton years, echoing to the strains of “Wang Dang Doodle” — or, more to the point, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

So I think Clinton should own it, whatever it is. If she doesn’t really have a summer playlist, say that. If it’s heavy on Springsteen and the Beatles, say that. Or just say that she likes Katy Perry because the singer offered to write her a campaign song, which is a perfectly good reason — I promise to like the first group that writes me a theme song.

So what I’m saying is this: You don’t have to keep it real, just real-ish. And let whoever handled Obama’s playlist handle yours, too.

Alice did not much like keeping so close to her: first, because the Duchess was very ugly; and secondly, because she was exactly the right jcarroll@sfchronicle.com